STONE CARE

Many people think because it’s stone you can not damage it! Nothing could be further from the truth. Stone while very hard and durable can be damaged or stained, but once it has been properly protected and then properly maintained the beauty is simply unparalleled

Everyday cleaning:
Most stones, once protected, require occasional scrubbing to remove surface build-up of dirt and grime. Basic soap and water works great and mild dishwashing liquid sometimes works quite well. Rinse thoroughly to remove any remaining cleaner.

Getting rid of small stain
For stains on marble or stone, a product commonly referred to as “poultice” should be used. Poultice is used in a paste form and is applied to the surface, covering the entire area where the stain is. Then apply a piece of plastic, larger than the stain area, over the poultice and seal off with tape. Allow it to set the prescribed amount of time by the Manufacturer and remove plastic and poultice. The stain is normally drawn out of the stone. Some poultice type products push the stain down into the stone away from the surface and allow you to seal the stone, thus keeping the stain away from the surface. Some stains may require multiple applications or can only be partially removed.

Polishing
Polishing stones to make attractive edges or to fix damage done by chemicals can be done in small areas by most anyone. Kits are available which have all the products to do this in one box. If you have a large area that is damaged or if you want to establish a once-a-year regular maintenance procedure to keep your marble glowing with it’s original mirror finish, contact a company that specializes in this type of work.

Acids and Alcohol
Marble and Limestone are susceptible to the aggressive action of acids and alcohol. Care should be taken to remove spillages of fruit juice, particularly lemon, wine and vinegar, beetroot etc. e.g. the residue of red wine on the base of wineglasses will leave its mark. Nail varnish and any other solvent or oil based products will stain if not wiped up immediately.

Acidic cleaners will etch and remove the polished surfaces from alkaline stones like marble, travertine, and sandstone. Acidic cleaners will eventually erode the finish and make cleaning and maintenance more and more problematic. This is due to the tendency of acid cleaners to eat away at the smaller aggregates first leaving the larger stain attracting aggregates behind.

If In Doubt, Don’t Apply Any Cleaner Or Cleaning Technique
Some mistakes can be irreversible, always check labels on the product you are thinking of using and test an inconspicuous area first to see what effects, if any, your cleaning process will have.

Heavy duty cleaning:
For a large area or deep stain, we recommend you consult professional stone cleaning services.

The first step in stone maintenance is deciding if you should seal the stone.
Generally, it is a good idea for it to be sealed. There are many sealers on the market but we recommend you use a penetrating sealer. Follow the Manufacturers recommendations for the product you choose. Understand that the finish of the stone (polished, honed, flamed etc.) will effect how much sealer you need to use coupled with the density and porosity of the stone. After you do the initial sealing you should repeat it every two years or so as determined by the amount of use the item gets.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

HOW BEST TO CLEAN MY GRANITE OR QUARTZ SURFACES?

From our years of experience and trying out lots of stone care products on the market the best thing we find is good ole soap and water. We just truthfully have not found anything that does any better job so from our point of view why spend the extra money.

CAN I PUT HOT POTS FROM STOVE OR OVEN ON THE STONE SURFACES?

If you have a Granite Surface you can but we don’t recommend you do this. If the stone surface is Cambria Quartz we do not recommend you do this ever as 7% of the material is a resin and it can melt depending on the temperature and leave a mark.

HOW OFTEN DO I NEED TO SEAL MY STONE SURFACE?

This answer depends on several factors. If your stone is granite or marble put in over 3 years ago then it is recommended you seal the stone every two years if you have normal house hold usage on the surface.

If your Granite or marble is less than 3 years old it most likely was factory pressure sealed – as most quarries now do this- and as long as you have again normal house hold usage on the surface you may never need to reseal it. However you can reseal it and we recommend not to do it more than every two years.

If it is Cambria Stone – you never need to reseal it as it’s a closed up non porous surface as it is manmade.

Now a word of caution on sealers – there are many types out there and please use only a penetrating sealer as these tend to be best for closing up stone. If you use a top coat or non-penetrating sealer these can really leave you with a mess as they form a skin like surface on top of the stone and I have seen many of these peel like bad sunburn. It’s a real job to get all the way off and restore the stone to like new condition when this happens and can be very costly so why risk it.

As a U.S. Stoneworks customer you just have to call us and we will reseal your counter top after two years from its initial installation date absolutely free. Just give us a call and schedule it.

CAN I CUT ON THE STONE SURFACE

If it is Granite the answer is maybe but we don’t recommend it as you might scratch the surface depending on the hardness of the knife material. It is recommended you
use a cutting board.

If its Cambria Stone you should not cut on the surface directly as its resin based
and will scratch.